NH Prescribed Fire Council plans educational meetings

OSSIPEE/CONCORD — Two upcoming events will provide an opportunity for the public to learn more about the science behind prescribed burns and how to conduct a prescribed burn safely.

The events are sponsored by the New Hampshire Prescribed Fire Council and will feature experts from the New Hampshire Division of Forests and Lands, The Nature Conservancy, The US Forest Service, New Hampshire Fish and Game, New Hampshire Army National Guard, and UNH Cooperative Extension.

The public is invited to meet some of the people who are involved in prescribed fires in New Hampshire and learn why and how they conduct these activities safely. Presenters will discuss the benefits of prescribed burns, planning and execution, permitting, and wildlife response, among other topics.

Every year, federal and state agencies,nonprofit organizations, and private landowners burn their woods to achieve specific outcomes, such as preservingrare wildlife species, promoting young forest habitat (brushy, shrubby areas), encouraging certain tree species to grow, or enhancing fire safety byreducing the amount of vegetation in the woods.